I have to say this.

I am so sick of having this conversation, I figured I would just post it on my blog and then hopefully, magically everyone will know the truth and I can just keep quiet about it.


Me: "Oh you got your haircut!" (As I think in my head OH MY you Fantined yourself. You know like Fantine from Les Mis who sells her hair to support her child. Thats what we call it at my house.)


Fantine victim: "Yeah! I donated it to Locks of Love where they'll make a wig and give it to a child with cancer!" they excitedly explain.


I have absolutely no problem with hair donation but I really feel like people should know where their hair is going. So, lets dissect this sentence and I will critique based upon my research from the LoL website.


                                      ...make a wig and GIVE it to a child.... 


" Hair that is short, gray, or otherwise unusable will be sold to help offset manufacturing costs."


Not ALL the hair is turned into wigs! Surprise! Also hair that is bleached or damaged cannot be used and is sold. Who buys it? Oh you know, just hair extension companies. So just when you think your hair is being worn on the bald scalp of a sick child it is actually being worn by a movie star or the Real Housewives of Orange county/New York/Atlanta. Or me and Leena Lou....


"We provide hairpieces and repairs free of charge or on a sliding scale based on the financial need of those responsible for the children."


What can we deduct from this? Very good- they in fact do not GIVE away all their hairpieces for free. 


                                           ....A child with CANCER!.....


"Q. What are some of the medical conditions of the children you help?
A. Most of our recipients suffer from alopecia areata. Others have experienced hair loss from radiation therapy and chemotherapy, severe burns or trauma, and various other genetic and dermatological conditions."


What can we deduct from this? Alopecia is NOT cancer. Most cancer patients will not qualify for LoL because their hair will grow back after chemo. To qualify for Lol you need long-term hairloss.


In conclusion, if you want to donate your hair to help kids with long-term hair loss, use LoL.  If you want to help people with cancer where they receive the wig free of charge then please please please use Pantene Beautiful Lengths. They give their wigs to women with cancer for free through the American Cancer Society. 
                                          Thats all. Spread the word. 


*** Wait. One more thing. If you want to donate your hair I beg you to get it cut by someone who knows how. Putting your hair into a ponytail and chopping off the ponytail is not a stylish and acceptable haircut!